Moscow, Oct 21: Marion Bartoli of France has withdrawn from the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup with an illness, handing Agnieszka Radwanska a spot in the season-ending WTA finals.
The third-seeded Bartoli was scheduled to play Elena Vesnina of Russia on Friday but pulled out because of a viral illness.
“I think just my whole body needed a break,” Bartoli said. “I really was trying till the end but yesterday during my match I already felt not very good.”
The ninth-ranked Frenchwoman beat Russia's Ksenia Pervak in straight sets in the second round on Wednesday and had not dropped a set her last six matches.
“I still have a bit of energy left, so it was enough (to play), but early this morning I had so much pain in my whole body, on my neck—I couldn't even warm up,” she said. “So, I knew it would be extremely difficult (to play). You know, it's been a very, very long season and I really tried it toward the end but that was it for me.”
Bartoli won her seventh career title in Osaka last weekend and needed to win the title in Moscow to secure the last spot left for next week's WTA Championships in Istanbul.
With Bartoli's withdrawal, Radwanska qualifies directly for the event for the first time, despite losing in the second round in Moscow. She was a substitute in 2008 and 2009.
